The Fair Haven area of the Quinnipiac River thrived in the 19th century as a center for maritime activities, including oystering, clamming and ship building. Families involved with this work lived along the river, in "oyster houses" which had a basement level room that served as storage areas for oysters and clams, which were shucked by men, women and children and sold from their homes.

Rossi's sculpture of a whimsical male bearded figure wearing a sea captain's hat, slicker and smoking a pipe, held an oyster in his right hand. A series of curves defined the figure, giving the Seaman the sense of floating along the water. He hands were amphibian-like, with nodules at the end of each finger, like a frog.

Rossi lived and worked in New Haven for ten years, studying with Ann Lehman at Creative Arts Workshop and Joseph Correale of Woodbridge. Unfortunately, the small scale of the bronze sculpture made it an easy target for vandals, and the Seaman disappeared shortly after installation.

Stony Creek granite, from quarries in nearby Branford, Connecticut, is a well-known building material, having been used in the base of the State of Liberty. Castelluci Stone Industry, owners of the Stony Creek granite quarry, donated the material. Suzio Concrete Company provided the concrete base for the monument, while Fucci Company managed the transportation and dug the footings.